Serena Williams Covers Vogue

Serena Williams made history by gracing the cover of Vogue’s June Olympic-themed issue, arm-in-arm with gold medalist, Ryan Lochte. By the way, the other lady is soccer player Hope Solo.

The tennis player joins the short list of African-Americans who’ve made the cover of the world-renown magazine. Fewer than 20 Black people have posed on the cover alone.

As far as the fashion impression the cover leaves, critics say the current issue is tasteless and lacks style. But others are delighted to see the blend of fashion and sports by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

“Of course, Wintour is clearly aware of the overlaps between the sports and fashion worlds,” Charlotte Cowles writes in a blog on the New York magazine website. “Sure, a lot of fashion fans may not be interested in sports — and vice versa — but the two industries have a lot in common. Their stars become huge celebrities. Both embrace extreme physical ideals, nutty personalities, and showiness. What athletes wear, both in and out of the game, is carefully examined. The way people define themselves by what they wear is not unlike how people define themselves by certain sports teams.

“Fashion and sports are both utterly frivolous and culturally essential. Both can involve more than a fair amount of spandex, glitter, and sequins,” Cowles concluded.

Williams is a huge fan of fashion, as she has designed tennis clothing for women.